Food Logging

How many people on here has food logged, and then just quit. I keep putting it off. I have been logging since I was diagnosed. for 7 months now, but I am always on the go and do not have time to write down what I eat. I remember it for a couple days then I forget when I have actually have time to write it down. I am feeling kind of guilty because my Dr. always said I was his star patient for always doing whats needed to be done.

9 replies

I did it for a few weeks, or was it months, several years ago. I had two, or maybe I should say three, resources that made it practical for me. One, is the USDA Nutritional database. It is fairly comprehensive and gives data in an easy to find format. Second, I used a Palm PDA with a database program to record the data and perform the calculations. Third, I have the expertise and ability to program and use the program in my Palm PDA. I used a postage scale to weigh my food as I was getting it ready to eat.

Two things I determined. First, you have to keep track very accurately of everything you consume if you want the end results to be meaningful and reliable. This can be a challenge, but overcoming the challenge is what makes the end result truly rewarding. If you do accurate food logging you will undoubtedly be shocked and astounded by how many calories you actually consume in a day. I was.

I suggest you approach food logging not as a chore, but as a challenge to learn more about yourself. That will give it meaning. Plan to do it for a set period of time, say two or three months. That gives you an end date to look forward to, and will go a long way to keeping it from becoming drudgery. Also, two or three months will give a picture that will be just as accurate as would a year long project. Make real changes in your diet after the logging period, based on what you have learned. Then resume food logging after a few months once the curiosity of how effective your changes have been becomes too great to ignore!

BTW, I really need to do it once again myself. Maybe I will use this discussion as an incentive to get to it!

One last question. Is everything you are so busy doing so important that risking pancreas failure, or a heart attack, is worth it? If not, you will find the time to record your food consumption.

First you have to ask yourself why you need a food log. If you use the information in the log to male significant changes in your treatment then you will likely find the time to do it. If you don't really use the information then it's kind of useless to keep a log. From time to time I keep one but its usually if I think I need to make a change in my insulin to carb ratio and only keep one for a week or so. Be never seen the point of keeping logs of any kind just for the sake of keeping them and not using the information.

I did it for a year the last three months all was the same I will still pick it up two days every two weeks just to know that I am still doing it right. If I dont keep on top of it who will ??????Best wishesHarlen

I have been having the same problem. It is time consuming because when I do it right, I write down all the numbers. Carbs, fats, proteins, calories, fiber and sodium...sigh...it takes a page a day. I too need to reclaim my star status with my doctor. Maybe it's in the air?